ROXBURY HISTORY BEFORE 1868

This page provides readers with a history of the City of Roxbury Fire
Department up to January 6, 1868, when Roxbury was annexed to Boston.

Seal of the City of Roxbury.

1907 Map of site of Greyhound Tavern up to 1784, then site of first firehouse in Roxbury.

The Punch Bowl was located in today's Brookline Village. Punch Bowl Road is now Brookline Ave. and Washington St. is now Huntington Av.

A large segment of the Town of Roxbury as it existed in 1832.

An 1846 membership certificate of Warren Spofford of the Hook & Ladder Co. of Roxbury.

The Company and 1829 Hunneman engine of Roxbury Torrent 6 on Eustis St., circa 1850.

Announcement of the forming of the Charitable Association of the Roxbury Fire Department.

1858 Hunneman & Co. advertisement which appeared in the Roxbury Directory, 1858.

The Chief Engineers of the Roxbury Fire Department.

The company of Warren Engine No. 1, Roxbury, pulling the hand-engine, circa 1862.

Date(s)

Activity

1746

A legislative act set a penalty of ten shillings upon every householder, living within ten rods of a neighbor's house or barn,
who failed to provide himself with a ladder, to aid in the extinguishing of fires.

1784

First Roxbury fire-engine was in service at the Greyhound Tavern at Roxbury & Vernon Sts.
Daniel Munroe was appointed Captain and the following were appointed enginemen:

A new engine, called 'Torrent No. 2' was in service and a company of twenty-one men appointed.

1819

A new engine was purchased by subscription for Engine No. 1 and the town was asked for land on the
northerly corner of the burying-ground [at Washington & Eustis Sts.]

1823

The first suction [hand] fire engines were made in Roxbury by
William C. Hunneman. The supply of water had previously been
brought in buckets and dumped into the 'tub'. The hand-tub was Serial No. 90 and was delivered to the Boston
Fire Department as 'Torrent No. 16'.

A fire destroyed the box factory in the Mill Dam area of Roxbury.
Read a
Newspaper Story
on the fire.

August 29, 1843

Roxbury Fire Company No. 7 visits the City of New Bedford and is received by the company of New Bedford Engine No. 7.
Roxbury brought their engine and were in full uniform during the visit.
Newspaper report of the visit.

The City of Roxbury (in Norfolk County) is annexed to the City of Boston (in Suffolk County). Three
Engine Companies, one Hook & Ladder Company and one Hose Company are added to the rolls of the Boston
Fire Department. They become Engines 12, 13, 14; Ladder 4; Hose 7.

To find the historical development of early Roxbury fire companies, see the chart below.